Pet food manufacturer completes $75 million expansion in Seward

Petsource said the 70,000-square-foot expansion triples the production capacity of freeze-dried pet food sold in partnership with various pet food brands. More warehouse space and space for meat processing has also been created along with additional office space. The company also added 75 new jobs.

Petsource’s expansion, which was completed last fall, marks the latest milestone in a rapidly growing company that began operations in Seward in fall 2020 with just over 100,000 square feet. An anchor tenant in Seward’s rail industrial park, Petsource is now one of the 10 largest employers in Seward County with more than 150 people on the payroll.

“We are very humbled by our ability to grow this quickly,” said Amy Patterson, president of Petsource.

Patterson attributes the company’s growth in part to growing customer demand for freeze dried pet food. Patterson said the freeze-dried pet food market has grown at least 20% annually over the past five years. The benefits of freeze-dried pet food, Patterson said, include versatility and a long shelf life without losing vitamins and minerals.

“It’s a premium pet food,” he said. “It can be served as a treat. It can be served as a topper on top of their traditional kibble. It can also be a complete food solution for our pets.”

About 10% of Petsource’s expansion has been financed through government support at the state and local level, Patterson said. That support includes $2,773,500 in tax-increment financing approved by the Seward City Council.

“We are very grateful for the partnership with the City of Seward, all the business leaders and certainly the state of Nebraska,” Patterson said.

Jonathan Jank, president and CEO of the Seward County Chamber and Development Partnership, called Petsource “an exemplary local employer and community partner.” Jank pointed to Petsource’s participation in Seward’s Fourth of July celebrations and toward building a new community wellness center in addition to being a large area employer.

“They just really did everything they said they were going to do,” he said.